She had indeed heard (since the news was on every tongue), and impetuously she flung her arms about her father's neck.
"Oh, papa, do him credit!" she cried; "it's like a story come true! What a romantic thing to happen!" "What a spirit!" her mother reflected proudly.

"She is just the girl for a chieftain's bride!" That very night was chosen for the ceremony, and eleven o'clock found them all assembled breathless in the drawing-room: all, save Lord Tulliwuddle and his host.
"Will they have to wait for a whole hour ?" asked Mrs.Gallosh in a low voice.
Indeed they all spoke in subdued accents.
"I am told," replied the Count, "that the apparition never appears till after midnight has struck.

Any time between twelve and one he may be expected." "Think of the terrible suspense after twelve has passed!" whispered Eva.
The Count had thought of this.
"I advised Duncan to take his flask," said Mr.Rentoul, with a solemn wink.

"So he'll not be so badly off." "Papa would never do such a thing to-night!" cried Eva.
"It's always a kind of precaution," said the sage.
Presently Count Bunker, who had been imparting the most terrific particulars of former interviews with the Wraith to the younger Galloshes, remarked that he must pass the time by overtaking some pressing correspondence.
"You will forgive me, I hope, for shutting myself up for an hour or so," he said to his hostess.

"I shall come back in time to learn the results of the meeting." And with the loss of his encouraging company a greater uneasiness fell upon the party.
Meanwhile, in a vast cavern of darkness, lit only by the solitary candle, the Baron and his host endeavored to maintain the sceptical buoyancy with which they had set forth upon their adventure.